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Home Nature-Study Course. 



size so that they are much larger when the young hatch than when first laid. 

 The snakelings are nearly eight inches long when they hatch. The saddle-shaped 

 blotches on the young have much red in them. This snake is not venomous ; it 

 will sometimes in defense try to chew the hand of the captor, but the wound it 

 can inflict is very slight and heals quickly. 





The zi'ater snake. 

 LESSON LIII. 



THE COMMON WATER SNAKE OR liANDED WATER SNAKE. 



Purpose. — To make the pupils realize that this snake is a more 

 interesting creature to study than to pelt with stones. 



The water snake is a clingy brown in color with cross bands of brown- 

 isli or reddish color, which spread out into blotches at the sides. Every 

 Ijoy knows it as the snake common about mill dams and wharves, or on 

 rocks and bushes near the water. 



Observations for the pupils: 



1. Describe how the water snake swims. 



2. How far does its head project above water when swimming? 



3. How long can it stay completely beneath water? 



4. What is Its food ? 



5. How does it catch its prey? 



6. Do these snakes have favorite places for sunning themselves? 



7. How do the young look? 



8. Where do the water snakes spend the winter? 



